Method and system for processing whole hemp stalks including extracting oil from processed hemp

Abstract

A method and system for processing whole hemp stalks is disclosed. The method and system use an entirety of the whole hemp stalks in producing the particulate hemp such that the particulate hemp comprises both bast fiber and shive of the original whole hemp stalks. Additionally, hemp crumbs or crumbles may be processed from whole hemp stalks, or from particulate hemp which is larger than the hemp crumbs such as hemp pellets. The hemp crumbs may be formed by crushing the hemp pellets.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of processing whole hemp stalks at a single location, each whole hemp stalk including bast fiber and shive, the method comprising:
 providing the whole hemp stalks at said location; 
 using a shredder at said location, reducing the whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp which is smaller in size than the whole hemp stalks and still includes bast fiber and shive; 
 at said location, processing the particulate hemp without separating bast fiber and shive including:
 reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in a first range between 25 microns and 500 microns so as to be usable for further processing of the particulate hemp into one of a plurality of different products each with different size; 
 
 wherein the particulate hemp includes unseparated bast fiber and shive throughout the step of processing the particulate hemp. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the particulate hemp comprises an average dimension between 1.10 centimeters and 7.70 centimeters after the step of reducing the whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp but prior to the step of processing the particulate hemp. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in the first range, additionally includes further altering the particulate hemp in size such that the particulate hemp comprises an average dimension between 0.5 microns and 3.20 centimeters. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in the first range, additionally includes further reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in a second range between 0.5 microns and 300 microns. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in the first range, further includes binding together the particulate hemp into a prescribed size range between 0.60 centimeters and 3.20 centimeters. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of binding together the particulate hemp into the prescribed size range between 0.60 centimeters and 3.20 centimeters, additionally includes reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in a prescribed range between 0.30 centimeters and 2.80 centimeters. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5  wherein the step of binding together the particulate hemp includes adding moisture to the particulate hemp at a beginning or throughout said step of binding together the particulate hemp so as to aid in binding the particulate hemp. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of binding together the particulate hemp, further includes a step of cooling the particulate hemp. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 5  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of binding together the particulate hemp, further includes a step of separating inadequate hemp units from the particulate hemp, the inadequate hemp units having an average dimension sized outside the prescribed size range between 0.60 centimeters and 3.20 centimeters. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 6  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in the prescribed range between 0.30 centimeters and 2.80 centimeters, additionally includes a step of separating inadequate hemp units from the particulate hemp, the inadequate hemp units having an average dimension sized outside said prescribed range between 0.30 centimeters and 2.80 centimeters. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9  wherein the step of processing the particulate hemp, after the step of separating inadequate hemp units, includes reforming the inadequate hemp units back into the particulate hemp that is sized in the prescribed size range between 0.60 centimeters and 3.20 centimeters by reiterating on said inadequate hemp units each one of (i) the step of reducing the particulate hemp in size into the first range, and (ii) the step of binding together the particulate hemp. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , after the step of reducing the whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp, further comprising a step of mixing the particulate hemp so as to produce a blend of the particulate hemp which has a substantially uniform distribution of moisture. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of providing the whole hemp stalks comprises providing bales thereof and the step of reducing the whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp comprises reducing the bales of the whole hemp stalks into the particulate hemp. 
     
     
       14. A system of processing whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp at a single location, wherein the whole hemp stalks have been harvested and each of the whole hemp stalks includes bast fiber and shive, the system comprising:
 a shredder arranged at said location for reducing the previously harvested whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp, which is smaller in size than the whole hemp stalks and still includes bast fiber and shive; 
 a processing stage arranged at said location for processing the particulate hemp without separating bast fiber and shive that includes:
 a first size reduction station arranged for reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in a first range between 25 microns and 500 microns so as to be usable for further processing of the particulate hemp into one of a plurality of different products each with different size; 
 at least one further size alteration station receiving the particulate hemp sized in the first range as input thereto for said further processing so as to derive a selected one of said plurality of different products; 
 
 wherein the particulate hemp includes unseparated bast fiber and shive throughout the processing stage. 
 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14  wherein said at least one further size alteration station is a second size reduction station which is arranged for further reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in a second range between 0.5 microns and 300 microns. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 15  wherein the second size reduction station comprises a hammer mill. 
     
     
       17. The system according to any one of  claims 14  wherein the first size reduction station comprises a hammer mill. 
     
     
       18. The system according to any one of  claims 14  wherein said at least one further size alteration station comprises a pelletizing station arranged for binding together the particulate hemp into a prescribed size range between 0.60 centimeters and 3.20 centimeters. 
     
     
       19. The system according to  claim 18  wherein said at least one further size alteration station, after the pelletizing station, further comprises another size reduction station arranged for reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in a prescribed range between 0.30 centimeters and 2.80 centimeters. 
     
     
       20. The system according to  claim 19  wherein said another size reduction station, which is arranged for reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in the prescribed range between 0.30 centimeters and 2.80 centimeters, comprises a roller mill. 
     
     
       21. The system according to  claim 18  wherein the pelletizing station is also arranged for adding moisture to the particulate hemp so as to aid in binding of the particulate hemp at the pelletizing station. 
     
     
       22. The system according to  claim 18  wherein the pelletizing station is also arranged for cooling the particulate hemp at a conclusion of the pelletizing station. 
     
     
       23. The system according to  claim 18  wherein the processing stage, after the pelletizing station, further includes a separation station arranged for segregating inadequate hemp units from the particulate hemp where the inadequate hemp units have an average dimension sized outside the prescribed size range between 0.60 centimeters and 3.20 centimeters. 
     
     
       24. The system according to  claim 23  wherein the separation station comprises a suction station arranged for applying suction to the particulate hemp to separate therefrom the inadequate hemp units that are sized smaller than 0.60 centimeters. 
     
     
       25. The system according to  claim 23  wherein the separation station comprises a screening station arranged for screening the particulate hemp.